title: Advances in therapeutic interventions targeting the vascular and lymphatic endothelium in inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The review summarizes the current knowledge of the roles played by the vascular and lymphatic endothelium throughout the gut in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and gives an update on emerging strategies targeting both vasculatures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Enormous efforts have been made to understand the mechanisms underlining the origin, development and maintenance of intestinal chronic inflammation. In particular, new studies focused their attention on the role played by the microvascular and lymphatic endothelium in the pathogenesis of IBD. During inflammation, whereas the microvasculature is responsible for the entry and distribution of immune cells in the mucosa, the lymphatic system controls leukocyte exit, bacterial clearance and edema absorption. The study of these events, which are aberrant during chronic inflammation, has resulted in the identification and validation of several targets for the treatment of experimental colitis, some of which have translated into effective treatments for patients with IBD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although much attention has been paid to the microvascular endothelium and to antiangiogenic therapies, specific studies on the lymphatic vasculature and its functions in IBD are still at the initial stage, and other molecular mechanisms, genes, molecules and new pathways must definitely be explored.
authors.affiliation: aDivision of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy bDepartment of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Digestive Disease Institute cDepartment of Pathobiology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA *Authors Silvia D'Alessio and Carlotta Tacconi share co-first authorship.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Alessio
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tacconi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiocchi
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danese
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004729:Endothelium, Lymphatic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors